Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Every bride wants to loose a few extra pounds before the big day. But what's the best way to do it? Here are some very simple tips on how to loose some extra pounds without getting a personal trainer or running a marathon.

1.) Replace all soda and juices with water

That's right, even diet soda. They are full of sugar and extra carbs that your body holds onto. This will also help clear your skin up if you have problems with pimples.

2.) Walk

You don't have to go on a long walk through the woods. Try simple things like taking the stairs instead of an elevator, or park in the farthest spot in the parking lot. It seems like a little, but a little at a time adds up.

3.) Replace your snacks

This one can be hard. Try not keep junk food in the house. Every time you crave a snack eat either a bowl of cottage cheese or a fruit. You can eat tons of low fat cottage cheese and not gain weight.

4.) No binge drinking

Drinking is how most people gain weight. If you stop drinking for a few months before the wedding (with the exception of the bachelorette party) you are sure to drop some weight with no effort. If you feel left out, order a tonic water at the bar and tell everyone its a gin tonic. No one will pressure you to drink and you can still enjoy the night.

5.) Restaurant Dinning

First, ask the waiter not to bring bread. When it is in front of you, you eat it. If it's not there, you rarely notice. Second, ask the waiter for a to go box when you get your food. Restaurants tend to give us way more food than we need. Put half your food into the to go container to take home. It is proven that you eat till your plate is empty, not till you are full. This is a great way to let your body tell you that it is full without over eating. Plus, you have dinner for tomorrow to go!

6.) Do not starve yourself

Eating small snacks like fruit or nuts between meals increases your metabolism. Not eating forces your body to store fat because it does not know when it will get more. By storing the fat, you actually end up gaining weight, and whenever you eat your body tries to save every bit it can.

7.) Exercise

If you already exercise then keep up the good work. If you don't, try to start simple. Do 25 crunches every morning when you wake up. Make it a habit like brushing your teeth. It only takes a few minutes and the pay off is great.

8.) Don't weight yourself

Weigh yourself once when you start your diet. Then don't weigh yourself till 1 month later. We tend to like instant results, and when we don't see them immediately we decide it is not working. You will not see results by weighing yourself every day. But you will see results in a month.

9.) Cinnamon

Add cinnamon to things like cereal and yogurt. Cinnamon speeds up your metabolism and helps you to digest the food faster. Make sure you do this on top of a healthy diet. It doesn't work miracles, but it definitely helps to loose weight when you put in the effort.

10.) Eat before you shop

When food shopping we often have urges to buy whatever we are craving. If you have a solid meal before food shopping, you are more likely to choose healthy items, and it becomes easier to ignore our junk food cravings. If you go on an empty stomach, it is easy to grab everything you want and forget about your diet.

Monday, October 24, 2011

Always a bridesmaid? That's ok. You get to celebrate and have all the fun without paying for the whole wedding. Yes, you get stuck with a dress you will never wear again, but hey who doesn't love to play dress up once in awhile? Here are some great tips for bridesmaid hairstyles.

Simple Up Do

The simple up do is my favorite. It looks great for the bridesmaids. It doesn't "out do" the bride. It looks great in photos with out pulling attention away from the bride as well.

Messy Up Do

This is a great "I didn't try too hard" look. It still looks fantastic, but often the bride wants her hair to have every strand perfectly placed. This messy up do still looks beautiful but also makes the bride look just a little more perfect without taking away from the bridesmaids.

Curly Up Do

This is a personal favorite. It looks pretty, keeps the hair out of your face, holds its shape, and looks great in photos. I'm partial to the up do because I feel it looks gorgeous on and does not take away from the bride.

Braided Hairstyles

The braided hairstyle is great for a more "relaxed" wedding. It looks stunning but also kind of natural. This is great for beach, garden, and spring/summer weddings. It's sweet and romantic and perfect for the easy going bridal party.

Simple Long Hairstyle

The half up hairstyle is great for all occasions. Its pretty and simple, and a great money saver as well. If you don't plan on going to a salon, this is easy to do at home. This sleek look, goes great with any dress and is a classic way to wear your hair.

Curly Hairstyles

This is the most common among bridesmaids. Be sure to pull the top pieces back so that they aren't in your face. Also, please do not make super tight ringlets in your hair and hairspray them to death. Curl the hair and then loosen the curls with your fingers. Then hairspray it. It looks beautiful and natural and keeps your hair from looking like plastic in photos.